Jätelaki

Jätelaki, or Laki jätteistä in Finnish, is the main national statute governing waste management in Finland. It provides the general framework for the generation, collection, transport, processing and disposal of waste and aims to prevent environmental harm while promoting recycling and the circular economy. The act defines what constitutes waste and covers cases such as by-products and residue, setting rules to prevent illegal handling and ensuring safe, environmentally sound treatment.

Scope and actors: The act applies to individuals, households, businesses and public authorities, as well as waste management operators. It assigns municipalities the duty to organize and supervise local waste collection and treatment, and it places responsibilities on producers and other market operators to arrange or finance the management of products after use under producer responsibility schemes. It requires licensing or registration of waste facilities and operators and mandates reporting and record-keeping to support waste statistics and enforcement.

Key instruments: The Jätelaki uses the waste hierarchy (prevention, reuse, recycling, energy recovery, disposal) as a guiding principle. It sets permit requirements for waste treatment facilities, rules for waste transport, and enforcement provisions. It promotes separate collection of recyclables and imposes duties on waste producers and receivers to minimize environmental impact. It also covers penalties for illegal dumping and unauthorised operations.

Implementation and relation to EU law: Enforcement is carried out by the Finnish Environment Institute (SYKE) and the Ministry of the Environment, with municipalities delivering local services. The act aligns Finnish waste policy with EU directives on waste management and has been amended several times to reflect evolving environmental and circular economy goals.